During the 2002-2003
school
year, Differentiated Instruction was given top priority for
professional
development in the Narragansett Elementary School. At least
30
teachers took part in 15 hours of training. They were given the choice
of five half day sessions during the summer or five afterschool
sessions
in the fall of 2002.Fifteen of these teachers
continued
meeting bi-monthly for the entire school year. Their culminating
project
is a revised curriculum unit based on the standards, the principles of
Differentiated Instruction. and technology integration.Teachers
participating in this professional development could receive a laptop
computer,
college credit, or continuing education units.

What is
Differentiated
Instruction?

Differentiated
Instruction
is not a strategy; it is a way of teaching based on adapting
instruction
to student differences. Assessment and instruction are inseparable. The
teacher of a differentiated classroom responds to varied learner needs,
guided by principles of differentiation: ongoing assessment and
adjustment,
respectful tasks, and flexible grouping.

How can it be
done?Tomlinson identifies three
elements of the curriculum that can be differentiated.ContentProcessProduct

What
are some strategies that can be utilized to differentiate in the
classroom?